Those last few posts took me all week to finish since I was so busy. So THIS week I officially became the AAEP Jr Podiatrist! I've now got a herd of 7 horses whose feet I'm responsible for managing. I'm so thrilled. This is the perfect bridge between trimming Mike's client horses and being in charge of long-term trimming of my own. I get to manage these guys for my entire 7 semesters so it'll be an excellent learning opportunity and allow me to keep practicing my trimming skills. Today was the AAEP Farrier short course given by Steve Prescott (farrier from SC) and Dr. Pleasant from VA Tech. We had a lecture in the morning and a wet lab afterwards with dead legs. We formed teams to trim the foot, nail a shoe on, then pull it off: the basic skills needed by practitioners. Elementary for me, but it allowed me to introduce myself to the current 7th farrier and to the Large Animal Sx head, both of whom were impressed by my trims. I'm going to trim these horses up, take photos, and pick Mike's (my mentor) brain when I get back. Cassara, a mare, has got horrible white line disease for instance.
Anyway, last night was the highly anticipated catamaran trip to Nevis organized by some of my peers. I was in heaven curled up on the top deck, watching the stars. I've never seen so many in my life. The first time I was on a boat at night I choked back tears of joy and gasped at the sight of it. Unbelievable. My eyes were wide as I frantically tried to orient myself by recognizing my favorite constellations. It's like being lost at home; there are just so many stars, I've got to search for the ones I know but I could hardly pick them out of the thousands you can see. Now that I've been out a few times I can find my way around the sky and last night I just relaxed as we drifted over the sea.
Down below, however, chaos ensues. My future colleagues have been waiting to blow off some serious steam, and this they did. Drank themselves silly. I have never seen so much wobbling, screaming, and peeling off of clothing and running amuck up and down the beach in my life. Do you really want to be remembered as one of the girls who had to be carried off of the boat because you were so wasted? And the next morning your facebook status says you went on a cat trip to Nevis last night. Actually, what you don't remember was that you could hardly walk, you stripped down until you were naked in front of 50 other students, ran around shrieking about swimming with sharks, and you don't remember this because you blacked out afterwords. Are you freaking kidding me? The things people my age do to themselves... Not I. Upon arriving at Nevis the fully inebriated group of students emptied on the beach where a bonfire wildly invited them in for more drinks. I stayed on the boat with Lisa and Antonio, the captain who brought our original fresh lobster dinner a few weeks ago. One moment screaming wild chaos and the next: calm, quiet, empty catamaran. The guys changed over the drinks and we gathered up the abandoned bags to protect them in case of rain.
Then I piled into the Zodiac, a tiny boat we used to get to Nevis after leaving Irie Lime just off the shore. I stuck with Lisa and crew and we drove to a little shak where we had the best pizza ever. Seafood pizza: Green pepper, lobster, shrimp. Delicious. Drank some local sarsaparilla, while back at the bar my counterparts were shooting killer bees and absinthe. Wicked combination I assume from observing once we returned to the beach after dinner and a brief tour of Charlestown. Few in our group could still form words. Many were stripping and crashing frantically into the waves. Others were puking in bushes.
Wow, too bad I missed out on this. Unsurprisingly, they staggered back up on the boat and continued the assault on their bodies. I break out the glowsticks, making me a quick new favorite and go about tagging the wrists of each of my friends whom I'm responsible for getting home safely. I get the usual "I Looooooove Yooooou Lydia," along with "GLOWWIEEESTICKS!!" and join the crew in keeping one eye open for anyone tempted to dip over the edge of the boat. Lisa and I retreat once again to the deck, where I tune out the dance party and breathe in the stars again. Every once in a while I sit up to watch the glow bracelets dance around on the lower level. Antonio points out the glare of a cruise ship headed to St. Maarten in the distance and I teach him and Lisa the constellations I know.
Prior to this little excursion, we ate at the absolute best saltfish and johnny cake shack on the island. 10EC ($3US) and you get a huge sandwich, similar to cornbread, stuffed with lettuce, tomato and saltfish plus a lemonade. Mmmmm. Best deal and best food in St Kitts.
While many other firsties spent their day today with a massive hangover, I helped teach other students how to trim and shoe. :)
take care
lkc
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